Multiple contact switch



March 27, 1962 B. E. SHLESINGER, .1R

MULTIPLE CONTACT SWITCH Filed 001;. 14. 1960 m., C mw of .m m m W 1 UL l mi N www WUnited States Patent i 3,027,435 i MULTIPLE CONTACT SWITCH Bernard E. Shlesinger, Jr., 906 Bruce Lane,

Annandale, Va. Filed Oct. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 62,751 18 Claims. (Cl. 200-83) The invention relates to improvements in multiple contact switches and the like. The present invention provides certain variations of multiple Contact switches as disclosed in my patent application Serial No. 700,354, filed December 3, 1957, now Patent No. 2,874,237, issued February 17, 1959.

lt is an object of this invention to provide a multiple contact rotary switch which has an unlimited number of combinations.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a contact switch which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is a further object of this invention to incorporate the use of printed circuits in a multiple contact switch.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a multiple contact switch which is compact and readily assembled. i

Still another object of this invention is to provide a contact switch which may be used for programming, computing, aircraft, rockets, telemetry and telephony and the like. l

It is another object of this invention to provide a' multiple contact switch which may be kept-relatively free from dust and moisture.. f

Still another object of this invention is to provide a switch which may be operated by changes in atmospheric pressures.

Other objects and various further features of the invention will be pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevation showing the casing in section and a portion of the bellows broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a plan section of the structure shown in l FIGURE l exemplifying one possible situation;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary section of the modified form of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section showing a further modification of this invention.

The switch comprises a cylindrical casing C of any suitable insulating material having a wall 10. The casing will be mounted on a component by brackets or the like depending on the position where it is located. The casing C has sealed or otherwise secured to its top portion at 11, a closure wall 12. The base 13 may be fastened tocasing C in any suitable manner, for example, by threading base 13 to casing C (not shown). The base 13 has an inset portion 14. The inset portion 1-4 has a centralized cylindrical opening 15. Wall of casing C has openings 18 extending through to the inside. The

Patented Mar. 27, i962 itl@ has on its surface printed circuits, for example, 31a, 31b and 31e. The printed circuits may be of any configuration so desired. For example, printed circuits 31a are shown on a vertical plane electrically connecting inner rim 32 of bellows 30 with an outer rim 33 and back to another inner rim 32 and so on until a conductive circuit is completed between two or more electrical contacts 20. Other examples shown in FiGURE l are printcd circuit 3h' going from one electrical contact 20 diagonally across the bellows 30 to another electrical contact 20, and printed circuit 31h going horizontally across the bellows 30 from one electrical contact 20 to another electrical contact 20.

Bellows 30 has a vacuum line 40 in sealing and keyed engagement at 4l for rotation about its axis as will be explained hereafter. Vacuum line 4() extends through opening 15 and is connected to a coupling 42 provided with a seal (not shown). The coupling 42 has a line 43 which is connected to a gage 44 and a line 45 which is connected (not shown) to a vacuum pump or other means of compression. A valve 46 in line 4S permits closure of the vacuum line 40.

Base 13 has an L-shaped frame 5t) mounted on the exterior side. Frame 50 has an arm 51 extending down perpendicular to the base 13. The arm 51 is liush with the edge of inset portion 14. Arm 51 has a centralized cylindrical opening 52. The opening 52 has a rotatable shaft 53 extending therethrough. The shaft 53 may be connected `to (though not shown) a rotating source, such as acontrolled electric motor. The opposite end of shaft 53 has a gear 54, which is keyed to shaft 53 and is locked on by any suitable means. The gear 54 has teeth 55 which are parallel to the axis of rotation of shaft 53. ln mesh with gear 54 is a second gear 56. The gear 56 is keyed at 57 to vacuum line 40. Teeth 58 of gear 56 are perpendicular to the axis of rotation of vacuum line 40.

For illustration purposes the printed circuits 31a, 31h and 31C of FIGURE 1, are shown thicker than normal. A thin film is all that is essential for carrying a current. If the printed circuit is too thick some resistance will be created to the rotary motion of the bellows, particularly openings 18 have electrical contacts 20 inset therein. The

contacts 20 may be located as desired depending upon the type of installation required. vElectrical contact 20 comprises lug 2l, spring 22, and contact 23. The lug 21 is set in opening 18 and has an arm 24. The arm 24 is for connecting electrical wiring thereto. The spring 22 urges contact 23 towards the inside wall 10. The openings 18 have shoulders 25 on the inside wall 10.

The shoulders 25 only allow the tip 26 of contact 23 to extend past .the edge of opening 18. The shoulders 28 of contact 23 engage with shoulders 25 of the opening 18 to prevent further movement of the contact 23.

The casing C contains a collapsible bellows 30, which is made of a nonconduetive material. The bellows 30 at the contacts. Also a ball bearing may be used in place of contact 20 to prevent excess wear. 1n this case the rim 33 would have a rounded edge.

In the modilied form of FIGURE 3 the bellows 30u shows the outer rim 33a having a groove 34. The groove 34 has a ring 35 which encircles the bellows 30a on each outer rim 33a. The ring 35 is made ol' a conductive material and can be broken as shown at 36. In place of broken portion 36. portions of the ring may be of a nonconductive material or coated with a nonconductive material to vary the circuitry as desired. The ring 35 may be electrically connected as shown with printed circuit 37 which underlies the rings 35. The modified electrical contact 60 sets in opening 18a of wall 10u and comprises a spring element 61 which has a contact ball 62 connected thereto.

ln FIGURE 4, bellows 30 is replaced by a balloon B which has printed circuit 71a. Air may be pumped into balloon B through air line 40a to cause expansion of balloon B toward the wall 12 and the base 13, thereby changing the position of printed circuit 71a. Valve 46a permits closure of air line 40a. The balloon B may be made of any flexible nonconductive material.

No rotation means are shown for the balloon B; however, this vmay be applied in the manner shown in FIG- URE l, but collapsing of the balloon B will be necessary before rotation can be made, and after proper indexing, the balloon B will thereupon be inflated again.

Air pressure between wall 12 andthe balloon B will abanaas normally be relieved through contactl openingsy lSb as! Prom the foregoing description it will now be readily seen in FlGURES l, 2 and 3 that upon rotation of shaft 53. gear S4 will rotate. Gear 56 will also rotate being meshed with gear 54. and vacuum line 40 will rotate with gear 56. Bellows 30 being in scaling engagement with the vacuum line 40 will rotate, changing the relationship of contacts 20 in regard to the outer rim 33. lt is obvious that other connection and rotation means may be provided for the bellows 30 depending upon the type of equipment in which the switch is to be used. The showing here is merely illustrative of one way of carrying out the teaching of this invention. In FIGURE 2 it may be seen that upon rotation of the bellows 30 to the right will change contacts of the printed circuits 31a`with the next succeeding contact 20.

On actuation of vacuum pump the air in `bellows 30 is evacuated thereby compressing bellows 30 toward the base i3. As the result of the evacuation the outer rims 33 change position in regard to electrical contacts 20.

Upon rotation of shaft 53 simultaneously with evacuation of bellows 30, the bellows Sti is rotated and compressed thereby changing electrical contacts 20 in regard to the outer rim 33.

lt is obvious that atmospheric changes in pressure on thc outside surface of balloon B or the bellows 30 can be used to collapse or expand the balloon B or the bellows 30 to change circuits. i

lt can now be readily seen that innumerable contact positions can be devised on the inside cylindrical surface of casing C, as well as on the bellows 30 or the balloon B.

While the invention has been described in connection with different embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations. uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within knowing, or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore sct forth and fall within the scope of the invention or the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what l claim is:

l. A multiple contact switch comprising an insulated .casing member. an insulated deformable member, at least three contacts in the wall of said casing member, said deformable member carrying contact means for contactf ing salti contacts, said contact means comprising at least two distinct printed circuits separated at least in part by a non-conducive surface, means for rotating one of said members. means for dcforming said deformable member. whereby upon rotation of one of said members, or deformation of said deformable memberor both, the circuit between said contacts and said contact means will be changed. f

2. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1 and wherein said deformable member is fluid operated.

3. A multiple contact switch as in claim l and wherein said dcforable member includes a bellows.

4. A multiple contract switch as in claim l and wherein said deformable member includes a balloon.

5. A multiple contact switch as in claim l and wherein said contact means is a printed circuit.

6. A multiple contact switch as in claim l and wherein said deformable member includes a fluid expandable chamber.

7. A multiple contact switch as in claim l and wherein said deformable member includes a scaled chamber having an expandable fluid therein.

8. Amultiple contact switch as in claim l and wherein said deformable member includes a uid expandable chamber, said switch including valve means for controlling said fluid in said chamber.

9. A multiple contact switch as in claim l and wherein said dcl'ortznthle member includes ahellows, said bellows having a ring member secured to cach peak of said bellows for providing electrical Contact between said contacts and said deformable contact means.

lt). A multiple contact switch as in claim l and wherein said deformable member includes a bellows, said bellows having at least one ring member secured to cach pealt of said bellows for providing electrical contact between-said contacts and said deformable member, said ring member being interrupted by non-conductive sections.

ll. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1 and wherein said deformable member includes a uid operated deformable member having at least one ring member sccured at intervals thereto and in wiping contact with the wall of said casing for providing electrical contact between said contacts and said deformable member.

l2, A multiple contact switch as in claim l and wherein said deformable member includes a fluid operated deformable member having at least one ring member secured at intervals to the outside thereto and in wiping contact with the wall of said casing for providing electrical contact between said contacts and said deformable member, said ring being interrupted by non-conductive sections.

llnA multiple contact switch as in claim l, and wherein said deformable member includes a bellows, said bellows `having outer rims, said outer rims of said bellows beingin constant frictional engagement with the inside surface of the cylindrical wall of said easing.

14. A multiple contact Switch as in claim l and Wherein at least aportion of said deformable member is in continuous wiping engagement with the wall of said casing member, and said wiping portion including portions of said two distinct conductive surfaces.

l5. A multiple contact switch comprising an insulated casing member. an insulated deformable member including a distortablc printed circuit. contacts on `the wall of said casing member for-'contacting said printed circuit, means for rotating said deformable member and said printed circuit, and means for distorting said printed circuit, whereby upon rotation or distortion, or both, of said printed circuit, the circuit between said contacts and said printed circuit will be changed.

i6. A multiple contact switch comprising an insulated casing member. an insulated deformable member including a deformablt` printed circuit, contacts on the wall ot' said casing member for controlling said printed circuit. means for deforming said deformable member and said printed circuit. said dcforming means including a fluid supply and exhaust system. whereby upon distortion of said printed circuit, the circuit between said contacts and said printed circuit will be changed.

l7. A multiple contact switch. comprising an insulated casing member. an insulated deformable member including a distortabltl printed circuit, contacts on the wall of said casing member for contacting said printed circuit, and means for moving said deformable member and said printed circuit in more than a singleplane to effect contact between said contacts and said printed circuit whereby to change from one circuit to another, said moving means including a fluid supply and exhaust system.

i8. A multiple contact switch comprising a noncon ductive casing, at least three stationary contacts in wall of said casing, a rotatable and compressable member contained inside of said casing, printed circuits on outside surface of said member, said printed circuits coniprisint,y at least two distinct printed circuits separated at least in part by a non-conductive surface, means for rotating Vsaid member without compression, means for coin- References Ced in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Seymour Nov. 1, 1927 Livingston July 16, 1940 10 Barbat Sept. 2, 1941 Eisler Feb. 26, 1952 6 Geeraert Sept. 29, 1953 Eis1er Ian. 19, 1954 Finlay etal Dec. 11, 1956 Hanlet Sept. 16, 1958 S'nlesinger Feb. 17, 1959 Mahan June 14, 1960 Leno et a1. Iuly 5, 1960 Nalette et al July 26, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Feb. 5, 1925 

